Storm
24
Match Complete
Cowboys
16
| 79 |  | K. Feldt | ||
| 79 |  | G. Cooper | ||
| C. Smith | | 73 | ||
| M. King | | 72 | ||
| 65 | | K. Feldt | ||
| 63 | | K. Feldt | ||
| C. Smith |  | 50 | ||
| W. Chambers | | 42 | ||
| C. Smith | | 38 | ||
| N. Asofa-Solomona | | 36 | ||
| C. Smith | | 27 | ||
| S. Earl | | 26 | ||
| 18 | | M. Taulagi |
| 4 | Tries | 3 | ||
| 3 | Conversions | 2 | ||
| 1 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
North Queensland head south to tackle the NRL’s top team Melbourne in the last round of the regular season. Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for all the action from ANZ Stadium.
The Storm are easing into another big finals campaign. They have been the best team in the competition this term, losing just four of their 23 matches, but they know that won’t guarantee success on grand final day.
It is all about heading into the semis on form and hitting their straps over the next month.
For the Cowboys, sitting in 12th spot, it has been a bludger of a campaign. They have only managed nine victories in 2019, in a year when many tipped them to be premiership contenders.
Their woes have put coach Paul Green under huge pressure. Many are calling for his head.
But North Queensland at least come into this match in reasonable touch after wins over Penrith and Canterbury. Finishing a tough season on a high note would be great for the Cows.
The Storm will be without star five-eighth Cameron Munster with a shoulder injury. This means Brodie Croft comes back in to partner Jahrome Hughes.
Josh Addo-Carr has been rested with Sandor Earl taking his spot on the wing. Brandon Smith has also been given the weekend off, as Melbourne give some of their guns a breather, with Tui Kamikamica joining the bench.
It’s still a formidable Melbourne line-up with Smith, the Bromwich brothers, Finucane, Asofa-Solomona and the likes of Chambers and Vunivalu in the backline. This won’t be easy for North Queensland, by any stretch of the imagination.
The Cowboys have made only change with Josh McGuire back on the bench after a three-game ban. Reuben Cotter makes way for the Queensland and Kangaroos forward McGuire.
Michael Morgan and John Asiata will run things in the halves, while North Queensland’s star pack of Jason Taumalolo, Jordan McLean, Gavin Cooper and Jake Granville should make some noise.
The Cowboys have a horrible record against the Storm, losing their past nine in a row, and will be keen to reverse that trend as they look to build for 2020.
Prediction
Melbourne want to win every game, and will hardly want to start the finals on the back of a defeat. The Cowboys have improved in recent weeks but won’t be able to match the well-oiled machine that is the Storm.
Melbourne to win by 12 points.
Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEST) for the play by play.
When: 7:50pm (AEST)
Where: AAMI Park, Melbourne
TV: Fox Sports
Betting: Melbourne $1.16, Draw $33, Cowboys $4.50
Melbourne
1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Will Chambers 4. Justin Olam 5. Sandor Earl 6. Brodie Croft 7. Jahrome Hughes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Cameron Smith (C) 10. Nelson Asofa-Solomona 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Dale Finucane 14. Max King 15. Tui Kamikamica 16. Tino Faasuamaleaui 17. Tom Eisenhuth 18. Curtis Scott 19. Joe Stimson 20. Billy Walters 21. Harry Grant.
Cowboys
1. Scott Drinkwater 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Jordan Kahu 4. Tom Opacic 5. Murray Taulagi 6. John Asiata 7. Michael Morgan (C) 8. Scott Bolton 9. Jake Granville 10. Jordan McLean (VC) 11. Gavin Cooper 12. Shane Wright 13. Jason Taumalolo 14. Josh McGuire 15. Coen Hess 16. Peter Hola 17. Francis Molo 18. Corey Jensen 19. Reuben Cotter 20. Tom Gilbert 21. Jake Clifford.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Todd Woodbridge covering the ashes
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
How many penalties did storm get in a row? We’re cowboys that poor with their discipline?
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Work with me here Rob. I was leveraging off jimmmy's "Smurfette" joke and I remembered how grumpy you can me. Probably brought on by altitude sickness seeing that you are 199 cm. It was the best I could come up with at short notice. gave me a nick name “Snow”... Snow White it is then. :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Rob
Guest
Jake Granville probably needs to play off the bench behind Cotter. The Cowboys have signed a young hooker from St George but I certainly would have someone in Harry Grants ear and offering him a welcome mat (starting gig)if he shows any interest. Jake Clifford will be a lot better if he can get some consistent time at 7 and getting his hands on the ball 3-4 times a set IMO. Green is a former halfback and Clifford is an QLD/Australian U20 captain and star playmaker. Surely he's got the ability. NQ have gone through 2years undefeated to win the NRL National Touch comp. NQ the 3years running before that (Marshall, Ponga, Shaun Johnson types). There's talent everywhere IMO.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Has there ever been a worse rugby league post game panel than Fittler, Moylan, Lockyer, Thaiday....?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Looks like four teams are going to be missing props next week...
Rob
Guest
"Grump Dwarf" Thats funny considering I'm 199cm tall. Bob McCarthy's wife Judy gave me a nick name "Snow". Judy used me as the walking lamp post on tour around England so everyone in the tour group could find each other in the crowds. Judy and her friends referred themselves as the 7 Dwarfs.
a
Roar Rookie
Good to see that Cowboys can go in 2020 with confidence
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Who do you think replaces Jake.?
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Drinkwater is great to watch if a bit of space opens up but running the ball back from kicks he doesn't look like he enjoys it so much. Reminds me a bit of Brett Stewart in that regard. Has plenty of potential though.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Agreed. The try Earl scored is a great indicator. When guys like Finucane and Kenny Bromwich can fill in and ball play like halves it speaks volumes to how professional and well trained they are.
Rob
Guest
We have a good 19yld prop in the wings. Granville is done now. Drinkwater looks good running the ball but doesn’t work hard of the ball backing up catching it on the full or defensively strong. Holmes would be the fullback. Martin has suffered a brain bleed and Clifford is injured but Green screwed the kids early in the season. They get Dunn( secondrower) back next year. Hola is going to be 20 soon and Gilbert will get an opportunity. Tuala has been out battling injuries and Taulagi is 19 and will be better for the 6 games he has under his belt.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Pretty fair summary . I think you left out the most important though. We need a half back. We have a very poor kicking game. Just not nrl standard imo. Morgs is a running six and is not up to running a team Now Clifford could come good. I have seen some improvement in him but he is still a long way off. We are I trouble if he doesn't make the grade.
The Barry
Roar Guru
She had to look out for Toey Smurf...
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
If a player cuts themselves shaving they blow time off!
The Barry
Roar Guru
They didn’t break too early, they were never bound...!!!
Joe
Roar Rookie
Drinkwater actually played a lot of 5/8 in reserves so if Holmes gets the 1 I think Drinkwater and Morgan in the halves would be pretty potent.
Rob
Guest
The Storm are a extremely well drilled team. Bellamy has done an unbelievable job at the Storm and continues to do it every year. Nothing but respect and envy for the organisation.
The Barry
Roar Guru
The bones of a good team are there for the Cows Drinkwater has the potential to be a gun. Looks dangerous when he gets the ball at pace. Moves well. Brilliant flick pass for Feldt’s try and a couple of minutes later turned the ball inside nicely for Opacic to go close. What do they do if they sign Holmes? Can Holmes play centre...? Feldt is great and unlucky not to have represented. Taulagi looks pretty handy. Opacic is playing good footy having an injury free run. Not sure about Kahu. Good depth player but beyond that...? Not sure what Hampton’s best position is. I don’t think Green should have persisted with Asiata at 6 even as an injury fill in. It worked as a shock weapon but teams have worked him out pretty quickly and shot down his options. Surely there’s a young half they could have given some experience to with Martin and Clifford out. They desperately need a new hooker. Granville’s service is poor and he’s lost most of the energy and spark he had in that 15 era Forward pack is good overall. Hess has struggled this year. I blame Green. Is Hess an 80 minute backrower? A middle third carthorse? An impact player? A centre? Give the guy a consistent role and let him get on with it. I really like Gavin Cooper as a footy player and a bloke but his best days are long gone. He’s really making up the numbers now and the Cowboys need to make a tough call rather than let him wander through and decide when he’s ready. I like Shane Wright. I’m not sure that Hola and Molo are ready to fill Bolton and Scott’s boots just yet and Maguire, Taumalolo and McLean seems a bit imbalanced as a middle third...JT13 and Maguire both play more like 13s so they could probably do with another genuine prop. So by my calcs they’re short a centre, hooker, second rower and a prop
Stormy
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the call, John. So frustrating - Ch9 can't even give Melbourne viewers a look a the Shield being presented. Much more important to show a film about someone in Shanghai in 1910. Talk about promoting the Game & consideration for viewers!!!!!!!!!!!!